May 27, 2012

What's happening around 'U's?---2

After Anamika and me parted our ways, I headed towards the restaurant to get some food. I was in a quandary if I should pack the food or eat there itself. I scanned the place and there were only couple of people sitting here and there. Somehow, I did not want to sit in the bus and eat in dark. So, I washed my hands and occupied a table. As I was waiting for the waiter, a middle aged man who entered the place sat at a table to my right hand side. It's little bit across. He was sitting within 10 ft away from me. While the waiter was taking my order, in a thinking posture, I happened to glance at this person. I noticed he was signalling at me with his hand to come to him. He was not doing it noticeably, his hand was at the height of the table. It wouldn't have fallen in anyone's attention. I was baffled. After the waiter left, I tried not to look at that side. Unexpectedly and undesirably, my eyes met him for a fraction of a second and he signaled again. It send me shivers down my spine. I promptly reacted by raising my head and mumbled, "what do you want?". I believe he didn't expect that kind of a reply and immediately nodded his head as 'nothing'. Meanwhile, my food was served. Bloody hell, the palak paneer was too hot and spicy! Without turning my head, I started to eat. I am not the kind of person who would look only at the plate and not anywhere else while eating. As I raised my head to drink water, I noticed a father and a teenage daughter sitting at a table opposite to me. I could tell they were father and daughter from their ages and clearly matching face features. I wonder what the father kept thinking. I could apparently apprehend his mysterious notions of me.
Those looks gave me nothing but creeps.Wait, I didn't wear a skimpy dress; I was properly covering myself with the so called traditional chudidaar in a very respectable way. (Atleast, that's what I felt). Oh god, come on, give me a break! I am here to eat my food. Not to entertain all these nasty a.....s. He has a daughter with him, she will grow into a woman and has to travel alone at least once in her life. Would people think ill of all the women travelling alone in the world? I know...I know..am being too crazy here. Huh?
Hmm...I finished eating and reached the counter to pay my bill. What the heck? Rs 90 for a bowl of palak paneer and one roti? I stepped out without savouring my food properly. Not because of the 90 bucks..because of the creepy creatures. Perturbed to enter the bus, I sat on the parapet at the entrance breathe some fresh air and also not many were boarding the bus. There was another person who was sitting beside me, an arm distance apart. Then comes this despised human being wandering in front of me and trying to grab attention. I totally ignored calling my mama and trying to divert my attention and looks far away. Within couple of minutes, he vanished from there. As I saw people slowly getting into the bus, I got into the bus. Even after getting into the bus, he didn't want to miss a last chance. On the way to his seat, he was murmuring something and walking. I got another chill to my bones. I just looked out of the window.
Though the bus resumed its travel, I was totally uncomfortable. I couldn't get down as it was middle of the night. Even though I get down, what is the guarantee that I don't encounter such filthy fellows elsewhere? I decided to stay back, determined to see what happens. It was a Govt. Bus. So, I still had some hopes of safety in some corner of my heart.
Unable to sleep, I kept myself awake. I saw this jerk get down in some stop and let a huge sigh of relief. Miss Anamika got down on the outskirts of Kurnool. There was someone waiting for her at the spot. Kurnool bus stand was full of people with arriving and departing buses. Mama picked me up on time. Unfortunately, as it was mid night, I hit the bed instantly and he left to work early the next day morning, I didn't even see him. I spent the next day with my aunt and cousin.
Many of us must have faced situations like this many times in different phases of our lives, right? What do we do then? Now I wonder, what if I was the only female travelling in that bus on that night? What if there were more men like him? Hmm..I don't want to give wings to my imagination now. All I wanted to say is, never lose your morale and have a minimal courtesy towards fellow human beings and people around you. We are living in and around people, not aliens. Watch what's happening around 'u's.
P.S: Sorry about the unexpectedly long write up. I wanted to make it short and neat and failed as usual :)Next is going to be my episode with the customs officers.It may take a while as I am going to resume work with a looong commute.

Hmmm...Face several these incidents when were going to college in Hyderabad...Also, when I went to India last time, I have to travel alone to my brother-in-laws engagement from Imlibun bus station, Hyderabad.Similar incident happened with me also. I was so scared and after sometime I started feeling pity on these people...

As long as girls/women keep quite to such incidents...these cheap fellows will continue doing it....

God, was that surrealistic! It is as is you have described a nightmare. Anyway, I breathed a sigh of relief once you touched the destination safely. I feel like repeating my comment to the previous part.

It is disgusting really. And irritating too. Nowadys I feel safe, the only reason is that I am never alone and my son is always with me. I will be so occupied with him that I won't even look at others.

I wonder when did it become MANLY to terrorise girls or given them such situation.. I thought manly was to actualy make sure the ladies are safe ..

thats what was taught to me .. and you from kurnool I got another blogger friend who is also from kurnool and she also said something like this wen she was going home to kurnool alone at night in a bus..